‘F-16s in India’ to figure in US official’s visit

Indo-US cooperation in defence technology and trade initiatives will be the focus of her visit to India which is part of her maiden visit to four Asian countries that would also take her to Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. She will also discuss the situation in the South China Sea besides the growing threat of terrorism. 

During her visit to India, she will meet Chief of Air Staff Marshal Arup Raha and Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar and will also discuss with her Indian counterparts proposals to co-produce aircraft in India in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ campaign. “We will be looking to see how can we deepen our partnerships and how can we take it to the next level,” James said in response to a question at a press briefing here on Wednesday on what her focus will be during her visit to India. She said she will discuss defence technology and follow up on the trade initiatives, which were launched during US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter’s visit to India in April.

 James replied in the affirmative when asked if she will follow up on American defence major Lockheed Martin’s proposals to assemble F-16s in India as well as on discussions to collaborate in bolstering India’s fighter jets and the jet engine technology working group. “I will be following up on all of those topics, discussing them to counterpart on a bilateral basis.”